Explanations of depression

Question 1

Cognitive approach

Answer 1

1. Beck (1967)- fixed mindset
2. Ellis (1962)- ABC model

Question 2

Beck (1967)

Answer 2

some people are more cognitvely vulnerable to depression
* fixed mindset
1. Faulty information processing- attending to the negative aspects of a situation rather than remembering the positive aspects + small problems appear more serious than they actually are
2. Negative self-schema- interpreting all information about the self in a negative way
3. Negative triad- negative views of the world, negative views of the future and negative view of themselves

Question 3

Ellis (1962)

Answer 3

ABC model
A: Activating event- irrational, negative thoughts are triggered by external event (could be from childhood)
B: Beliefs- the holding of irrational beliefs + feeling down when things do not go smoothly because the person holds expectations that they must always be successful + perfect
C: Consequences-the irrational beliefs have emotional and behavioural consequences (state of depression)

Question 4

Evaluation

Answer 4

+ Cohen et al
+Real world application
- Ignores other characteristics
- Doesnt consider endogenous depression

Question 5

+ Cohen et al

Answer 5

2019
* supportive evidence to suggest that cognitive vulberability lead sto depression
* tracked the development of 473 teenagers measuring their cognitive vulnerability
* found that cognitve vulnerabilty predicted later vulnerability

Question 6

+ Real world application

Answer 6

• Becks view has real world application
• assessing cognitive vulnerability allows psychologists to identify those most at risk of developing depression in the future and monitoting them

Question 7

- ignores other characteristics

Answer 7

• cognitive characteristics cannot account for all characteristics (emotional and behavioural) and symptoms of depression such as anger
• its too simplistic

Question 8

- Cannot explain endogenous depression

Answer 8

• can be used to explain depression that has been triggered by negative life events (reactive depression) but it can not explain depression that has no links to life (endogenous depression)